Editor’s Note: It’s never too early for football. In anticipation for Mississippi State’s 2026-27 season, The Dispatch will spend this week and next breaking down MSU’s position groups. Today’s position: the tight ends.
One of the biggest uncertainties on MSU’s offense is the tight end room.
The Bulldogs lost its leader, Seydou Traore, to graduation and the NFL. MSU’s six tight ends on the roster bring just seven total receptions from last season across two players.
Traore was MSU’s third-leading receiver last season with 367 yards, and it’ll be up to an inexperienced room to fill that space this season. Here’s a look at MSU’s 2026-27 tight end depth chart using Ourlads.com projected depth chart.
The starter
Sam West, redshirt junior
Sam West is expected to step into the spotlight this season after backing up Traore.
He appeared in all 13 games for MSU last year, but tallied just five total catches and 41 yards. His whole career, spanning two years at Indiana and one at State, West has six total receptions.
West was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and measures at 6’ 4, 250 pounds.
The backups
Riley Williams, redshirt junior
MSU marks Riley Williams’ third school in four years.
The journeyman from Portland, Oregon spent his first two years at Miami (FL), catching 15 passes for 187 yards. He transferred closer to home for his junior season at Oregon State, but barely saw the field, playing in just two games.
He was a four-star recruit out of the IMG Academy and measures at 6’ 5, 250.
Zayion Cotton, freshman
One of State’s highest class of 2026 recruits was Zayion Cotton.
A 4-star tight end from Grenada, Cotton was rated the 20th best tight end in the country and seventh best player in the state according to Rivals. Cotton recorded 807 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Grenada High School.
He was one of State’s three 4-star recruits, but it’s uncertain the kind of production he’ll see in his freshman year. Cotton comes in at 6’ 5, 230.
Also on the roster
Joseph Skipworth, redshirt freshman
Didn’t record any starts across four games for State last season. Measures at 6’ 5, 250.
The freshmen
Adam Land – 6’ 3, 230 from Panama City, Florida.
Luke Hutchinson – 6’ 3, 235 from Nashville, Tennessee.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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